NEW DELHI: India on Wednesday condemned the attack on the commercial vessel Settebello off the coast of Oman and said efforts were underway to locate three missing Indian crew members, while 21 others had been rescued safely.
In a statement, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said the Indian Embassy in Muscat is closely monitoring the situation and coordinating with Omani authorities involved in the ongoing search-and-rescue operation.
“We condemn the attack on the commercial vessel Settebello off the coast of Oman earlier today. Of the 24 Indian crew members onboard, 21 have been rescued so far, while three Indians are reportedly missing. Our Embassy in Oman is proactively coordinating with local authorities as search efforts continue,” the ministry said.
The vessel involved was the Palau-flagged chemical and oil products tanker Settebello, which reported an engine-room fire about 20 nautical miles northeast of Oman’s port of Sohar, according to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO).
Maritime security firm Vanguard identified the vessel as Settebello and said the Omani Navy responded to its distress call. Data from ship-tracking platform MarineTraffic indicated that the tanker was partially laden and was last recorded off the Omani coast on June 1.
The incident comes days after another vessel carrying 24 Indian seafarers reportedly came under attack near the Strait of Hormuz. The Forward Seamen’s Union of India (FSUI) had appealed to Indian authorities and the Indian Navy for assistance after receiving distress communications from the vessel, identified as Marivex.
All 24 Indian crew members aboard that vessel were subsequently rescued by Omani military authorities.
The attacks have heightened concerns over maritime security in the Gulf region, particularly around the strategically important Strait of Hormuz, through which a significant share of global oil and gas supplies passes.
The United States has been enforcing restrictions on maritime traffic linked to Iranian ports since April 13, following disruptions to shipping in and around the Strait of Hormuz. According to US Central Command (CENTCOM), seven vessels that failed to comply with the restrictions had been disabled as of June 8, while 134 others were redirected and 42 ships carrying humanitarian aid were permitted to continue their journeys.
The latest incident has once again drawn attention to the risks faced by commercial shipping and seafarers operating in one of the world’s most sensitive maritime corridors.
